Plural-valve plumbing fixture



N0v. 11,v1941.

PLURAL-VLVE PLUMBING FIXTURES*l Filed lApril-25, 1940 4`SheetS-Sheet l E. A; POPE 2,262,046

Nov. l1, 1941. E. A. POPE PLURAL-VALVE PLUMBING FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1940 A@ n@ E N wrwl Nov. 11, 1941. E. A. POPE MURAL-VALVE PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed April 23, 1940 4 Sh'eets--SheeiLI 3 Nov. 11, 1941.

E. A. POPE.

PLURAL-VALVE PLUMBING FIXTURE '4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1940 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 unirsev star S PATENT FIQE Chase Brass c Copper Co.

Incorporated,

Waterbury, Conn., a corporation Application April 23, 1940, Serial No. 331,078

(Ci. 137-111) Y Ciaims.

The present invention relates to improvements in plumbing-fixtures and more particularly to plumbing-fixtures having two or more valves each having distinct piping connections but which feed water to a common outlet.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior plural-valve plumbing-xture which may be readily and conveniently coupled to piping by means of solder or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior plural-valve plumbing-fixture which may be produced at low cost for manufacture and which may be installed with low labor costs.

` A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior plumbing-fixture of the character referred to, which may be readily and conveniently coupled to a plurality of pipes or the like despite differences in the degrees of projection of such pipes or the like with respect to a wall-surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a superior plural-valve plumbing-lixture which may be readily and conveniently positioned at varying distances with respect to a wallsurface in order to accommodate esoutcheons or other covering means of varying depths and designs.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a superior plumbing-fixture of the character referred to, which requires a minimum of space for its accommodation.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear' to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are .novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig, 1 is a view in front elevation of one form of plural-valve plumbing-fixture embodying the present invention and shown in conjunction with a portion of a wall-structure and associated piping;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view but taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line ll--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the distributinghead of the structure of the preceding figures and viewing the same mainly from the front;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding view but viewing the distributing-head mainly from the rear;

Fig. 7 is a View in front elevation of the general nature of Fig. 1 but showing another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal central longitudinal sectional view through the structure of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the same character as Figs. 4 and 8, but illustrating still another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the distributinghead of the structure shown in Fig. 9, and viewing the said distributing-head mainly from the front;

Fig. 11 is a similar View but viewing the distributing-head mainly from the rear; and

Fig, 12 is a perspective View of one of the closures shown in Fig. 9.

The structure of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive In the form of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, a hollow distributinghead 20 is employed which may be conveniently produced by casting the same from brass or other suitable corrosion-resistant and solderable material. The particular distributing-head 2U is of bar-like form in general appearance inasmuch as it is considerably greater in length than in its lateral dimensions, and has two cylindricallycontoured hollow end-portions 2 I. and 22 respectively at its opposite ends.

The hollow distributing-head is of substantially-rectangular form in cross section and includes a front-wall 23, a parallel back-wall 2li, a topwall 25 and a complementa] bottom-wall 26.

Adjacent its cylindrically-contoured end-portion 2|, the distributing-head 26 has its backwall 24 provided with a tubular inlet-boss 2l projecting forwardly from the said back-wall into the hollow interior of the distributing-head, as is l shown especially well in Figs. 3 and 4. Extendwater-inlet passage 3l] corresponding to and eX- tending in parallelism with the hot-water-inlet passage 28 before referred to.

Centrally intermediate the inlet-bosses 21 and 29 before referred to, the back-Wall 24 of the distributing-head is formed with a forwardlyprojecting tubular outlet-boss 3| through which and through the back-wall 24 extends a mixedwater-outlet passage 32 corresponding to the passages 28 and 30 before referred to, and extending in parallelism therewith.

Axially in line' with the hot-water inlet passage 28, the front-wall 23 of the distributing-head is formed with a threaded access-port 33 leading from the exterior to the interior of the distributing-head and formed adjacent its outer end with an annular gasket-recess 34 receiving a ring-like gasket 35. Installed in the access-port 33 is the externally-threaded shank 36 of a closure or plug generally designated by the reference character 31. The closure 31 just referred to is formed with an annular radially-extending sealing-flange 38 having its rear face seated against the gasket 35, as is shown particularly well in Figs. 3 and 4. The closure 31 is also formed with a forwardly-projecting though relatively-short hexagonal wrench-receiving portion 39 by means of which the closure may be turned.

Arranged axially in line with the lcold-waterinlet passage and in the front-wall 23 of the distributing-head 26 is an internally-threaded access-port 40 leading from the exterior to the interior of the distributing-head. Adjacent its outer end the said access-port 40 is formed with an annular gasket-recess 4I receiving a gasket 42. Threaded into the access-port 40 is the externally-threaded stem or shank 43 of a closure of plug generally designated by the reference character 44. The said closure 44 is formed about midway of its length with an annular radially-extending sealing-flange 45 having its rear face seated against the gasket 42 before referred to. The closure 44 is also formed with a forwardly-projecting hexagonal wrench-receiving portion 46 or with other suitable means by which it may be conveniently threaded into and out of place.

Substantially centrally of the length of the distributing-head 20, the front-wall 23 thereof is formed with a threaded access-port 41 arranged coaxially with respect to the mixed-water-outlet passage 32 and leading from the front face of the distributing-head into the hollow interior thereof. Adjacent its outer end the access-port 41 is formed with an annular gasket-recess 48 receiving a ring-like gasket 49. Threaded into the threaded access-port 41 is the externallythreaded stern or shank 50 of a closure or plug generally designated by the reference character 5l. Like the closures 31` and 44 before referred to, the closure 5| is provided about midway of its length with an annular radially-projecting sealing-flange 52 seating against the gasket 49. The said closure 5I is also formed with a hexagonal wrench-receiving portion 53 corresponding to the portions 39 and 4S of the closures 31 and 44 before referred to.

Intermediate the access-ports 33 and 41, the front-wall 23 of the distributing-head 20 is provided vwith an integral forwardly-projecting tubular hot-water-valve-receiving portion 54. The said portion 54 is formed internally with threads 55 which are engaged by the threads 56 upon the exterior of a valve-head 51 constructed and arranged to control the ow of hot water into the hollow interior of the distributing-head as will` more fully hereinafter appear;

The valve-head 51 is provided with a rigid forwardly-projecting valve-stem 58 which is provided at its exposed forward end with an operating-handle 59 by means of which the valve-head 51 may be advanced and retired. Adjacent its forward end the hot-water-Valve-receiving portion 54 is externally threaded, as shown, for the reception of a packing-nut 60 through which the valve-stem 58 extends. Within the packing-nut 60 and seated against the front edge of the hotwater-valve-receiving portion 54 is a gasket-retaining washer 6| having a conipressible packing-gasket 62 between its front face and the rear face of the forward portion of the packing-nut 60.

The inner face of the valve-head 51 in the hot-water-valve-receiving portion 54 of the distributing-head 20 is adapted to engage with the forward edge of a replaceable tubular valve-seat 63 which is externally threaded and screwed into a threaded aperture in the central portion of a Z-shaped partition 64 which, save for the passage afforded through the tubular valve-seat 63, partitions-off the hot-water-inlet passage 28 from the mixed-water-outlet passage 32.

Intermediate the central access-port 41 and the access-port 40 the front-wall 23 of the distributing-head 29 is formed with an integral forwardly-projecting cold water valve receiving portion 65 of tubular form. The said portion 65 is formed internally with threads 66 which are engaged by threads 61 upon the periphery of a valve-head 68 which is designed and adapted to control the flow of cold water into the interior of the distributing-head in a manner as will l hereinafter appear.

' through which the Valve-stem 69 extends.

n by the said packing-nut against the forward face of va gasket-retaining washer 13 seated against the forward edge of the cold-water-valVe-receiving portion 65.

The rear face of the valve-head 68 is adapted to engage with the forward edge of an externally-threaded tubular valve-seat 14 to shut off the flow of cold water into the hollow interior of the distributing-head 20. The said tubular valve-seat 14 is screwed into the apertured central portion of a Z-shaped partition 1'5 which, save for the passage through the tubular valveseat 14, partitions-off the cold-Water-inlet passage 36 from the mixed-Water-outlet passage 32.

The distributing-head 2U may be installed so that the rear face of its back-wall 24 rests against the front face of a wall-structure 16, by sleeving the three passages 28, 30 and 32 respec.

tively over the adjacent forward ends of a horizontal hot-water-supply tube 11,` a cold-water- Nsupply tube 18 and a mixed-water-outlet tube 19. The respective forward terminalsy of the tubes 11, 18 and 19 just referred to, areV cylindrically contoured and proportioned to snugly telescopically intert respectively within the `vpas- `sages 28, 30 and 32 referred to, so as to be read- 'fily sweat-solderable in place after the parts have been thoroughly .cleaned and coated vwith a suit'- able flux. The close or snug telescopic intertting referredto should 'be of such character as to provide for the capillary flow of solder or other cementing material between the opposed surfaces.

The various tubes 77, 78 and 79 may b-e connected a`t their rear ends into appropriate features of va plumbing system in manners which may vary in accordance with the exigencies of any given situation. c

As shown, the rear end of the hot-watersupply tube'77 is coupled to'an elbow 80 curving downwardly-and-rearwardly therefrom and having its lower end connected in turn to a vertical hot-water-supply tube 8| leading downwardly to a suitable source of hot water.

In a similar manner, the cold-water-supply tube 78 has its rear end connected to a downwardly-and-rearwardly-curvedelbow 92 which is -connected at its lower end to a vertical coldwater-supply tube 83 leading downwardly to a suitable source of cold water.

In a manner similar to that described above in connection with tubes 77 and 78, the rear end of the horizontal mixed-water-outlet tube 79 is connected to the adjacent end of an upwardly-and-rearwardly-curved elbow 84 which is connected in turn to the adjacent lower end of a vertical mixed-water-outlet tube 85 leading from the said elbow for connection to a shower head or the like.

After the sleeving of the three passages 28, and 32 over the respective tubes 77, 78 and 79, the sweat soldering of the said parts may be accomplished through the respective accessports 33, and 47 prior to the installation in the said ports of the closures 37, 44 and 5|. When the sweat soldering is completed, the closures 37, 44 and 5| may be firmly threaded into the respective access-ports 33, 0 and i7 to prevent the escape of fluid through the said accessports. f

It may be noted that despite variations in the positions of the outer ends of the tubes 77, 78 and 79 with respect to the front face of the wall-structure 76 (within reasonable limits), the telescopic intertting of the passages 28, 30 and 32 respectively with the said tubes 77, 78 and 79 will readily compensate for such variations.

The structure of Figs. 7 and 8 The plural-valve plumbing-fixture illustrated in Figs. '7 and-8 corresponds in the main to the structure of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and will bear like reference characters plus the reference character a save in instances where new reference characters are required.

Substantially axially in line with its hot-water-inlet passage 28a, the distributing-head 29u is formed with an internally-threaded accessport 8B leading from the interior to the exterior through the front-wall 23a. At its inner end the said access-port 86 is formed with an inwardly-extending annular flange 87, the forward face of which provides a seatfor a gasket 38. Threaded into the outer portion of the accessport 86 is a disk-like closure or plug 89 having its outer face lying substantially flush with the forward face of the front-wall 23a and provided with a kerf 90.

Axially in line with the cold-water-inlet passage 30a, the front-wall 23a of the distributinghead 20a is provided with a threaded accessport 9| receiving a closure or plug 92 correspondface of which is seated a ring-like gasket 97.

Threaded into the access-port so as to engage its rear face with the front face of the gasket 9-7 is. a closure or plug 98 -corresponding to the closures 89 and 92 before referred to.

The distributing-head 20a instead of being mounted forwardly of a wall-surface as was the case with `the distributing-head 20, is mounted in an aperture 99 in a wall-structure 76a., so that the forward face of the front-Wall 23a of the said distributing-head 20a is substantially flush with the front` face of the wall-structure 76a. Extending over the forward face of `the front- Wall 23a of the distributing-head 20a is a shallow escutcheon-plate |00 which may be conveniently struck-up from sheet metal and which has its edge engaged with the front face of the wallstructure 76a so as to conceal the aperture 99 in the latter.

The structure of Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive The plural-valve plumbing-fixture illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive also corresponds in fundamental characteristics to the structure of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and will therefore bear like reference characters plus the reference character b save in instances where new reference characters are required.

The distributing-head 2Gb is formed in its front-wall 23h axially in line with the hot-waterinlet passage 28h with an unthreaded accessport |03 which is slightly enlarged at its outer portion to provide a substantially-smooth unthreaded cylindrically-contoured socket-portion |04. The said socket-portion |09 receives with a snug sliding fit the cylindrically-contoured skirt-portion |05 of a cup-shaped closure generally designated by the reference character |06. The exterior surface of the skirt-portion |05` of the closure |06 is proportioned to snugly t the socket-portion |09 and is sweat soldered in place therein after the hot-Water-supply tube 777) has been sweat-soldered in the hot-water-inlet passage 28h.

The front-wall 23h of the distributing-head 2979 is also provided with an access-port |07 arranged axially in line with the cold-water-inlet passage 30h and like the access-port |03, is provided with a slightly-enlarged socket-portion |08 receiving with a snug telescopic t the skirtportion |09 of a cup-shaped closure II 0. The closure I I may be sweat-soldered into the socket |08 in a manner already described in connection with the closure |06.

Also formed in the front-wall 23h of the distributing-head 2Gb midway the length thereof and axially in line with the mixed-water-outlet passage 32D is an access-port III having a socket-portion II2 in which is sweat-soldered the skirt-portion II3 of a cup-shaped closure II4.

In the instance shown, the distributing-head 201) is placed so that its rear wall rests against the front surface of a wall-structure 16h so as to be mainly covered by a relatively-deep escutcheon I I5 which may be conveniently formed of sheet metal. The said escutcheon is secured in place by retaining-nuts IIS and III respectively threaded onto the hot-water-valve-receiving portion 54h and the cold-water-valve-receiving portion 65h of the distributing-head 2Gb.

General considerations All of the plural-valve plumbing-fixtures herein shown and described are characterized by their capacity for being telescoped over two inlet-tubes and an outlet-tube to varying degrees as may be required by varying conditions. Furthermore, the various water passages and the tubes telescoped thereinto are made readily available for sweat-soldering or the like through one or more suitable access-ports. It will be apparent from the drawings that when a given closure is removed from its complementa] access-port, the flame from a torch may be readily directed against the parts which it is desired to sweatsolder.

Preferably and as shown, individual accessports are provided for each of the water passages through such arrangement, while preferable, is not necessary under the present invention.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: l

1. A plural-valve plumbing-xture comprising: a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of control-valves, and a plurality of substantiallyparallel cylindrical-surfaced coupling-portions designed and adapted to be telescopically-interfitted with and soldered to cylindrical-surfaced end-portions of pipes 0r the like; access-port means designed and adapted to have heat introduced through said access-port means to the interior of said hollow distributing-head to solder the said telescopically-interfitted parts; and closure-means for said access-port means.

2. A plural-valve plumbing-nxture comprising: a hollow distributor-head having a plurality of control-valves, a front-wall, a back-Wall, and a plurality of substantially parallel cylindrical-surfaced coupling-portions extending from said back-wall toward said front-wall and designed and adapted to be telescopically-intertted with and soldered to cylindrical-surfaced end-portions of pipes or the like; access-port means in said front-wall and designed and adapted to have heat introduced through said access-port means to the interior of said hollow distributor-head to solder the said telescopically-intertted parts; and closure-means for said access-port means.

3. A plural-valve plumbing-fixture comprising: a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of control-valves, and Ia plurality of substantiallyparallel cylindrical-surfaced coupling-portions designed and adapted to be telescopically-interfitted with and soldered to cylindrical-surfaced end-portions of pipes or the like; access-port means designed and adapted to have heat introduced through said access-port means to the interior of said hollow distributing-head to solder the said telescopically-intertted parts; closure-means for said access-port means; and an escutcheon covering said closure-means.

4. A plural-valve plumbing-nxture comprising:

a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of control-valves, and a plurality of substantiallyparallel cylindrical-surfaced coupling-portions designed and adapted to be telescopically-interfitted with and soldered to cylindrical-surfaced end-portions of pipes or the like; threaded access-port means designed and adapted to have heat introduced through said access-port means to the interior of said hollow distributing-head to solder thesaid telescopically-intertted parts; and threaded closure-means for said access-port means.

5. A plural-valve plumbing-fixture comprising: a hollow distributing-head having a plurality of control-valves, and a plurality of substantiallyparallel cylindrical-surfaced coupling-portions designed and adapted to be telescopically-interiitted with and soldered to cylindrical-surfaced end-portions of pipes or the like; substantiallysmooth unthreaded access-port means designed and adapted to have heat introduced through said access-port means to the interior of said hollow distributing-head to solder the said telescopically-intertted parts; and substantiallysmooth unthreaded closure-means for said access-port means.

ELTON A. POPE. 

